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THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
Ian Wright, Arsenal legend, England striker and TV pundit extraordinaire, is one of the most interesting and relevant figures in modern football.
His journey from a South London council estate to national treasure is everybody's dream. From Sunday morning football directly to Crystal Palace; from 'boring, boring Arsenal' to inside the Wenger Revolution; from Saturday afternoons on the pitch to Saturday evenings on primetime television; from a week in prison to inspiring youth offenders, Ian will reveal all about his extraordinary life and career.
Ian will also frankly discuss how retirement affects footballers, why George Graham deserves a statue, social media, why music matters, breaking Arsenal's goal-scoring record, racism, the unadulterated joy of playing alongside Dennis Bergkamp and, of course, what he thinks of Tottenham.
Not a standard footballer's autobiography, Ian Wright's memoir is a thoughtful and gripping insight into a Highbury Hero and one of the greatest sports stars of recent years.
An Extract from A Life in Football My Autobiography Ian Wright
Getting the call that told me You're in the England squad was surreal. Five years previously I'd been playing Sunday morning football and going to work every day. Now I was being considered as one of the best couple of dozen English players. Yes, I was scoring goals at a regular rate for Palace, but getting asked to represent your country is the pinnacle ? it's every footballer's dream. After a player gets that call, he'll be sent a letter confirming it, which is when it really hits home, because then you get to see all the other players in the squad written down. Shilton . . . Lineker . . . Barnes . . . Waddle . . . Everybody was there on that list, and although I knew those guys would be in the squad, I could hardly believe my name was in there too. Why I didn't keep that piece of paper is beyond me.
It was for a friendly against Hungary in September 1990 and the England camp was at Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire. After dinner on the first day, we had to go and get the training kit. I went straight back to my room with mine and tried it on! I remember just walking about in the room wearing it and looking in the mirror.
Of course, I didn't sleep properly that night because I couldn't wait for the next morning and going out for training. Breakfast couldn't come quick enough. The warm up couldn't come quick enough. Everything couldn't come quick enough.
Then there I was, running alongside Gary Lineker and John Barnes, watching people like that in training I was part of the England set up! The only cloud in that sky was Steve McMahon: he was really horrible to me on that first day. I was really nervous taking part in training, because even though I had been picked for an England squad I was still not far away from feeling that I was not going to be good enough in any situation, and he went out of his way to be nasty.
About the Author
More Details
- Contributor: Ian Wright
- Imprint: Constable
- ISBN13: 9781472123602
- Number of Pages: 384
- Packaged Dimensions: 197x126x25mm
- Packaged Weight: 290
- Format: Paperback
- Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
- Release Date: 2017-06-01
- Binding: Paperback / softback
- Biography: Ian Wright, MBE, is an English former professional footballer, turned television and radio personality. Wright enjoyed success with London clubs Crystal Palace and Arsenal, as well as earning 33 caps for the English national team. He also played in the English and Scottish Premier Leagues for West Ham United and Celtic and the Football League for Burnley and Nottingham Forest.
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